Of the Vocation of Our Age for Legislation and Jurisprudence

Friedrich Karl von Savigny's pamphlet, "Of the Vocation of Our Age for Legislation and Jurisprudence" (1814), argued against the immediate codification of German law. Savigny, a founder of the "historical school" of jurisprudence, believed that law originates from the unique spirit of a people, their customs, and traditions, rather than from rational legislation. He posited that law develops organically, much like language, and that its true meaning can only be understood through historical investigation. Savigny's perspective was influenced by Romanticism and the concept of Volksgeist (national spirit). He advocated for a deep appreciation of historical origins and transformations to understand existing legal bodies, opposing the idea of universal legal principles detached from a specific community's characteristics.1